Chrysanthemum plant named `Empire Salsa`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Empire Salsa particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; red-purple ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of 60 to 64 mm when fully opened; spreading branching pattern; natural season flower date of August 22 to 23 when planting rooted cuttings on June 17 to 18 in Salinas, Calif., and September 15 to 22 when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to 22 in Hightstown, N.J.; plant height of 23 to 28 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with no growth regulators; and durable, uniform performance.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Empire Salsa.

Empire Salsa, identified as 9852 (Z91-2), was originated from a crossmade by the inventor the inventor Janet S. Fuess in a controlledbreeding program in New Hartford, N.Y. in October 1990.

The female parent of Empire Salsa was an unnamed seedling, identified asD90-16, and described as a bronze daisy garden mum.

The male parent of Empire Salsa was an unnamed seedling, identified asC90-3, and described as a red daisy garden mum.

Empire Salsa was discovered and selected as one flowering plant withinthe progeny of the stated cross by Janet S. Fuess in September 1991 inNew Hartford, N.Y.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Empire Salsa was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inOctober 1991 in a controlled environment in New Hartford, N.Y. by Janets. Fuess.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Empire Salsa are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Empire Salsa has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in controlled open areas in Salinas, Calif., and in Hightstown,N.J. Rooted cuttings were established in soil and maintained outdoorsunder the natural temperature and daylength prevailing during Junethrough October.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Empire Salsa, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Red-purple ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 60 to 64 mm when fully opened.

5. Branching pattern is spreading.

6. Natural season flower date of August 22 to 23 when planting rootedcuttings on June 17 and 18 in Salinas, Calif., and of September 15 to 22when planting rooted cuttings June 15 to 22 in Hightstown, N.J.

7. Plant height of 23 to 28 cm when grown in fall under naturaldaylength with no growth regulators.

8. Durable, uniform performance.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Empire Salsa, with the colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Empire Salsa grown in natural seasonoutside conditions in Salinas, Calif.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Empire Salsa.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Empire Salsa at 3 stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature). In sheets 2 and 3 a measuring tape incentimeters has been added.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Empire Salsa is the cultivar identified as Sandy,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,531. Reference is made to attachedChart A, which compares certain characteristics of Empire Salsa to thesame characteristics of Sandy.

Similar traits are capitulum form and type, and branching pattern. Theray floret color of Empire Salsa is red-purple (RHS 60A to 60B), whilethe ray floret color of Sandy is described as honey-bronzed (R.H.S. 13C,very slightly tinged with 24B). Empire Salsa has a smaller diameter ofcapitulum, an earlier natural season flower date, and a shorter plantheight when compared with Sandy.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a pinched garden mum grown outdoors in Salinas,Calif. on Aug. 22, 1994.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Empire Salsa.

Commercial.--Flat daisy garden mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat

Type.--Daisy

Diameter across face.--60 to 64 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Red-purple.

Color (upper surface).--60A to 60B.

Color (under surface).--182D, overlaid with 60B.

Shape.--Flat, straight.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--15B.

Color (immature).--6B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; moderate pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--23 to 28 cm when grown in fall under natural daylength with nogrowth regulators.

Branching pattern.--Spreading.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed, slightly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        Characteristic Empire Salsa Sandy                                             ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                             Red-purple   Honey-bronze                                      Capitulum form Flat         Flat                                              and type       Daisy        Daisy                                             Diameter across fac                                                                          60 to 64 mm  63 to 73 mm                                       of capitulum                                                                  Branching pattern                                                                            Spreading    Spreading                                         Natural season flower date:                                                   in Salinas, CA Aug 22 to 23 Aug 25 to 28                                      in Hightstown, NJ                                                                            Sep 15 to 22 Sep 23 to 28                                      Plant height:  23 to 28 cm  30 to 35 cm                                       COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN                                              UNDER NATURAL SEASON OUTDOOR                                                  CONDITIONS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                             AND IN HIGHTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY                                                 ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Empire Salsa,as described and illustrated.